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What better to do than to give it for Mistress Evelyn Byrd? Evelyn, who
had had for all her suitors only a slow smile and shake of the head;
Evelyn, as older than her years; Evelyn, as his friend as he was
hers Love! He had left that land behind, and she had never touched its
shores; the geography of the poets to the contrary, it did not lie in the
course of all who passed through life He made his suit, and now he had
his answer
If he did not take trouble to wonder at her confession, or to modestly ask
himself how he had deserved her love, neither did he insult her with pity
or with any lightness of thought Nor was he ready to believe that his
rejection was final Apparently indifferent as he was, it was yet his way
to oal he
desired to reach He thought that Fair Viewinto the crossroad that, running south and east, would take
him back to the banks of the James and to his own house, he had not
slackened speed, but now, as he saw through the trees before hi of rail fence, he drew rein The road turned, and a gate barred his
way When he had opened it and passed through, he was upon his own land
He had ridden off his irritation, and could now calmly tell himself that
the blunder was made and over with, and that it was the duty of the